Describes a software library developed to teach biophysics and physiology undergraduates that includes software on (1) the Hodgkin-Huxley model for excitation of action potentials in electrically excitable cells; (2) a random-walk model of diffusion; (3) single voltage-gated ion channels; (4) steady-state chemically mediated transport; and (5)…

Argues that the method of "collaborative modelling" developed to teach reading skills may be utilized in generating and assessing pupil talk within the classroom. Pupil pairs were given different texts from science, English, and geography and asked to re-present them in another form. Results indicate the value of the talk emerging from…

Within mathematics education, classroom teachers, educational researchers, and instructional designers share the common goals of understanding and improving the teaching and learning of mathematics. Teachers work to help students learn; researchers study how people learn and teach mathematics; and designers develop instructional materials to…

This article describes an approach to teaching linear equations using multiple representations in a highly motivating context. Connections among representations are made explicit to enhance understanding and empower students. (Contains 4 figures.)

This document presents text and graphs to provide an overview of administrative expenditures in institutions of higher education in Texas. Administrative expenditure indicators at Texas public senior universities are compared with each other, with national averages, and with averages of the 10 states nearest Texas in population. In constant…

In statistical terms, transfer rates require two components: a numerator that represents community college students who transfer and a denominator that approximates the pool of potential transfer students. The California Task Force adopted a set of criteria to judge the appropriateness of prospective pairs of numerators and denominators. Its form…

In 1992, a study was conducted at Golden West College (GWC) in California to determine whether an English prerequisite should be required for a speech communication course and, if so, what level of English course was necessary. Fourteen sections of Speech Communication 100 were randomly chosen from the spring, summer, and fall semesters during the…

This publication brings together the best available data to measure the health and the economic, educational, and social well-being of children in the United States. The report focuses on the following 10 indicators of child and adolescent health, education, and socioeconomic status: (1) percentage of low-birth weight babies; (2) infant mortality…

Interest in Total Quality Management (TQM) at institutions of higher education has been stressed in recent years as an important area of activity for institutional researchers. Two previous AIR Forum papers have presented some of the statistical and graphical methods used for TQM. This paper, the third in the series, first discusses some of the…

This booklet is the third in a series of nine from the Teacher Training Institute at Hofstra University (New York) and includes 11 samples of computer program lessons designed to enhance the teaching of secondary school mathematics. An introductory section includes the purpose and rationale for this series of software programs, the role of the…

Drawing on four examples of institutional research undertaken at San Joaquin Delta College (SJDC), this paper offers six principles to help researchers make their work more relevant and to enable decision makers to utilize research more effectively. The research examples provide brief descriptions of the need for, methodology of, and findings of…

Core school enrollment and staffing data from the historical file of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) are presented for 1990-91 and for some previous years (typical comparisons are made with data for 1982-83 and 1989-90). The following demographic trends that influence both public and private education are summarized: (1)…

Focusing on a 7-year period beginning in 1984, this report examines statewide staffing and salary trends for California community college faculty. Highlighted findings include the following: (1) between 1984 and 1990, there was a steady increase of nearly 3% per year in all categories of community college staffing, bringing the employee count to…

Information is provided about the Delaware Educational Assessment Program and the performance of Delaware public school students as measured by a nationally-normed standardized achievement test. The Stanford Achievement Test, Eighth Edition was administered statewide, allowing comparisons with national performance and with the performance of…

An exploratory study developed ways to describe systematically a particular graphic organizer, the frame. For the study, 27 middle-grade teachers each constructed 2 frames on sections of fourth-grade science and social studies texts. Teachers also worked collaboratively in pairs and larger groups to produce frames. Collaborative sessions were…